Pastors in Recovery

Episode 94 - The People God Sent

When we pray for help, guidance, wisdom, or strength, we often expect God to answer through a miracle, a sign, or a dramatic breakthrough. But what if many of God's answers arrive in the form of people?

In this episode of Pastors in Recovery, Jon Hammond explores the biblical examples of Aaron, Jonathan, Barnabas, Ruth, Naomi, and the friends who carried a paralyzed man to Jesus. Along the way, Jon shares personal stories about three people God used to shape his own life: his wife Janine, his youth pastor "Bones," and his longtime sponsor James.

Whether you're in recovery, ministry, or simply navigating life's challenges, this episode is a reminder that God often works through relationships. The people who encourage us, challenge us, walk beside us, and help carry our burdens may be some of His greatest gifts.Who has God sent into your life?

And who might God be sending you to?

Scriptures discussed:
• Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
• Exodus 4:14
• Proverbs 27:17
• 1 Samuel 23:16
• 1 Thessalonians 2:8
• Acts 9:27
• Mark 2:5
• Proverbs 11:14
• Ruth 1:16
• James 1:17
• Isaiah 6:8
• Philippians 1:3

Thank you for listening to Pastors in Recovery. If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, share it with a friend, and consider leaving a review.

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This episode includes AI-generated content.

Episode 93 - Retiring Without Losing Your Purpose

Episode 93 explores the emotional and spiritual transition many pastors quietly face as they grow older. What happens when your passions begin to change? What if retirement is not the end of your purpose, but a new season of it?

In this deeply personal episode, Jon Hammond reflects on aging, ministry identity, family, legacy, and the growing desire to simply be near the people we love most. He shares honest thoughts about how his perspective has changed over the years, especially now as a grandfather, and why many older pastors begin valuing presence over performance. This episode speaks to pastors who are wrestling with slowing down, redefining purpose, and learning that a quieter assignment is not a lesser assignment. 

Featuring the original song “Seasons,” inspired by the timeless and reverent style of classic Christian inspirational music honoring older saints who have remained faithful through every stage of life.

Scriptures referenced:
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Psalm 92:14
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
Titus 2:2-3

Remember… God meets us in our brokenness. And that’s where the journey toward restoration begins.

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This episode includes AI-generated content.

Episode 92 - Always On - Pastors ADHD and the Guilt of Rest
In this deeply personal episode of Pastors in Recovery, Jon Hammond talks honestly about pastors who struggle to slow down. From racing thoughts and chaotic desks to guilt over resting and late-night scrolling, this episode explores the hidden mental and emotional overload many pastors quietly carry.

Jon discusses ADHD-style struggles, overstimulation, exhaustion, and the pressure many ministry leaders feel to always stay productive and available. He also shares practical encouragement about accountability, healthy rhythms, medication consistency, and learning how to “downshift” instead of constantly running in overdrive.

This is not a medical discussion or diagnosis. It’s an honest conversation about grace, self-awareness, recovery, and understanding how God can meet pastors even in their weakness and exhaustion.

Scriptures referenced include:
Psalm 46:10
1 Corinthians 14:33
Matthew 11:28
Psalm 4:8
2 Corinthians 12:9

Featuring the original song:
“Downshift”

Remember… God meets us in our brokenness. And that’s where the journey toward restoration begins.


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This episode includes AI-generated content.

Episode 91 -  Everbody Else

In Episode 91 of the Pastors in Recovery, Jon opens up about something he misunderstood about himself for years — why certain parts of ministry energized him while other parts emotionally drained him. Why did preaching, mentoring, recovery groups, creativity, and helping people solve problems feel life-giving… while hospital visits, emotionally heavy conversations, and intimate adult interactions often created anxiety and exhaustion? This honest conversation explores:

• performance anxiety in ministry,
• emotional wiring,
• purposeful helping,
• fear of emotionally undefined situations,
• and the hidden danger of using ministry as a safe place to avoid facing our own pain.

Jon shares personal stories from youth ministry, church planting, Celebrate Recovery, and even working tech at Target, where God slowly stretched and grew him relationally over time. This episode is for pastors, leaders, caregivers, and helpers who genuinely love people… but sometimes realize they’ve spent so much time helping everybody else that they forgot how to let God help them too.

Featuring the original song:
🎵 “Everybody Else”

Remember, God meets us in our brokenness… and that’s where the journey of restoration begins.

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This episode includes AI-generated content.

Episode 90 - Called… But Not Ready Yet

What happens when someone feels genuinely called by God… but they’re not fully ready yet?

In Episode 90 of Pastors in Recovery, Jon Hammond talks honestly about one of the most difficult balancing acts pastors face: encouraging people in their calling while also protecting the church through wisdom, discernment, and healthy leadership boundaries. Drawing from personal experiences in Bible college, early ministry opportunities, painful leadership betrayals, and lessons learned the hard way, Jon explores the difference between charisma and character, gifting and grounding, passion and preparation. This episode dives into:

• why calling and readiness are not always the same thing
• the danger of releasing leaders too quickly
• how wounded pastors can swing toward control or unhealthy trust
• why healthy churches require both grace and discernment
• how leaders like Tommy Barnett and Rick Warren modeled healthy delegation and development
• and why pastors must seek God’s wisdom and trusted counsel when making leadership decisions

Most importantly, this episode reminds us that God often calls people long before He finishes shaping them. Because healthy pastors grow healthy churches.

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This episode includes AI-generated content.

Episode 89 - Another Church Town

Sometimes the hardest part of ministry isn’t the sermon… it’s the moving truck.

In Episode 89 of the Pastors in Recovery podcast, Jon Hammond talks honestly about the emotional cost of relocating in ministry and how repeated church moves can deeply affect pastors, wives, and children.

New churches can bring excitement, opportunity, and fresh vision… but they can also leave families exhausted, uprooted, and quietly hurting. This episode explores the tension between genuine calling and the temptation to escape burnout, conflict, restlessness, or the pursuit of “something bigger.”

If you’ve ever packed boxes for another ministry move…
wondered how it affected your marriage…
or watched your children struggle with instability and loss…
this conversation is for you.

📖 Key Scripture:
Luke 14:28–30
1 Timothy 3:4–5

🎵 Includes the original song:
“Another Church Town”

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This episode includes AI-generated content.

Episode 88 - Struggling Children and You Can’t Fix It

Some of the deepest pain a parent can carry is watching a child struggle… and realizing you can’t fix it. In this honest and heartfelt episode of Pastors in Recovery, we talk about the heartbreak of loving teenage or adult children who are making difficult choices, drifting spiritually, resisting help, or blaming the very people trying to care for them.

For many parents, the dream slowly changes over time. First you hoped they’d love Jesus. Then maybe marry well. Then maybe just stay in church. Then maybe just find stability. Then maybe… just stay safe. And through it all, your love never got smaller. This episode is for parents carrying guilt, grief, confusion, and private tears. Especially those who feel like they failed when in reality they are dealing with something every loving parent eventually learns: You can love deeply… and still not control the outcome.

We’ll talk about:
• When helping gets called controlling
• Why parents carry guilt for choices they didn’t make
• Boundaries without losing love
• Hope when your child is far from where you dreamed they’d be
• Trusting God with what you cannot change

🎵 Featuring the original song: I'll Leave The Porch Light On
A moving reminder that even when you can’t walk their road for them, you can still keep the light on.

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This episode includes AI-generated content.

Episode 87 - Don’t Forget Her - Loving Your Wife When Life Gets Heavy

Sometimes in ministry, we give our best energy to everyone else… and the one closest to us gets what’s left.

In this episode of Pastors in Recovery, we take an honest look at what it means to truly love your wife—not just in words, but in presence, sacrifice, and everyday choices. With Mother’s Day approaching, this is a reminder that our wives don’t just need appreciation once a year… they need to know they’re not walking alone.

We’ll talk about:

• The quiet ways we drift at home while staying faithful in ministry
• What it really means to “lay down your life” for your wife
• How distraction and comparison can steal your affection
• Simple, tangible ways to step back in and love her well

This episode isn’t about guilt. It’s about returning. 🎵 Featuring the original song: “In Your Corner”
A powerful reminder of what it means to come back, stand beside her, and carry the weight together.

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This episode includes AI-generated content.

Episode 86 - I tried and it Didn't work (So I Stopped)

Have you ever tried to connect with someone… and it just didn’t go the way you hoped? Maybe it felt awkward. Maybe they didn’t respond. Maybe you walked away thinking, “That didn’t work… so I’m done.” In this episode, we go deeper than just surface-level connection. We talk about why many of us stop trying—not just because it didn’t work, but because it cost us something. Sometimes it’s rejection. Sometimes it’s comparison. And sometimes… it’s what we believe about ourselves. We unpack:

• Why one awkward moment doesn’t mean failure
• What happens when we feel “less than” in the room
• How wrong motives (like trying to climb or prove ourselves) can sabotage connection
• The hidden role of insecurity and overthinking
• And how living in the past or future keeps us from real relationships

Most importantly, we talk about how to shift out of “me-focused” thinking and into real, present, meaningful connection. If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation replaying everything you said… or avoided someone because you assumed they didn’t want to talk to you… this one is for you. You don’t have to perform your way into connection. You just have to be present.

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This episode includes AI-generated content.

Episode 85 - Loneliness by Choice | From Isolation to Connection

Loneliness is something many pastors feel—but what if part of the problem isn’t just what’s happening to us… but what we’re not doing about it? In

Episode 1, we talked about how real isolation is in ministry. But this episode is different. This is a practical conversation about what it actually looks like to move out of isolation and into connection. We talk about:

• The difference between healthy solitude and unhealthy isolation
• Why connection feels awkward and hard to initiate
• How shame (especially around hidden struggles) pushes us into hiding
• The lie that “everyone knows” what you’ve done—and why that’s not true
• How to reconnect in a healthy way: God → sponsor → others
• Simple, real-life strategies to build connection (coffee, calendars, conferences, and more)
• Why waiting for connection doesn’t work—and what it means to go first God often puts people in our path—but He doesn’t schedule our relationships for us.

If you’ve been feeling isolated, this episode gives you a simple, doable next step.
One person.
One text.
One step.

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Find the Podcast:
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Podcast Music:
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Also on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn